10 Famous People Who Never Actually Existed

10. Uncle Sam

He may be the iconic image of American patriotism - yet "Uncle Sam" never actually existed. But his initials - "U" and "S" - are intended to personify the "United States". It is believed Uncle Sam was the nickname given to entrepreneur Samuel Wilson, who supplied meat rations to American soldiers during the War of Independence, but it was first used in literature in the allegorical book The Adventures of Uncle Sam in Search After His Lost Honor in 1816.

However, the more common image of Uncle Sam recognised today became prominent during World War I after he was depicted on to American propaganda posters. Political cartoonist JM Flagg used his own face to replicate the British recruitment posters which displayed Lord Kitchener, and added white hair, a long beard, as well as blue, white and red clothing to the figure in order to create "Uncle Sam".

Uncle Sam is still used to this day to represent patriotism and freedom in the United States of America - but he was actually not the father of the USA, as some believe.